Tape drive with a single reel tape cartridge having single guide surface and method for driving

Abstract

A tape drive having a single reel data storage cartridge disposed therein is provided. The single reel data storage cartridge includes a housing having an access window and a reel rotatably disposed within the housing and having storage tape wound on the reel. A guide surface is further disposed within the housing such that the tape extends from the reel to the guide surface before extending to the access window. The tape drive includes at least a first guiding element, a data transducer, and a take-up reel, wherein the storage tape extends from the supply reel to the guide surface before extending through the access window to the first guiding element, and the storage tape is guided within the tape drive adjacent a data transducer, and wound on the take-up reel.

1. A tape drive with a storage cartridge disposed therein, comprising:
 a storage cartridge housing having:
 a single supply reel rotatably disposed within the storage cartridge housing and having storage tape wound on the supply reel, 
 only a single access window for allowing a tape drive access to the storage tape wound on the supply reel for reading or writing to the storage tape, and 
 only a single guide surface disposed within the storage cartridge housing, wherein the guide surface is positioned within the storage cartridge housing to guide the storage tape away from the supply reel and then back to reengage tape of the supply reel before extending to the access window; and 
 
 a tape drive having:
 at least a first guiding element, 
 a data transducer, and 
 a take-up reel, wherein 
 
 the storage tape is guided within the tape drive along a tape path passing adjacent a data transducer, and wound on the take-up reel, wherein the storage tape passes adjacent the data transducer along the tape path between at least the first guiding element and the take-up reel. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the guide surface includes a rotatable surface. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the guide surface includes a stationary surface. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the guide surface includes a contoured surface. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the data transducer includes at least one of a read head and a write head. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the storage tape includes a leader block adapted to be releasably attached to the take-up reel. 
     
     
       7. A method for driving a data storage tape cartridge, comprising the acts of:
 receiving a data storage cartridge within a tape drive, wherein the storage cartridge includes a housing with a supply reel rotatably disposed therein and only a single guide surface; and 
 linearly streaming a storage tape along a tape path from the supply reel of the storage cartridge, adjacent a data transducer located in the tape drive, and to a take-up reel of the tape drive, wherein 
 the data transducer is located along the tape path between a first guiding element of the tape drive and the take-up reel of the tape drive, and 
 the guide surface is positioned within the housing to guide the storage tape away from supply reel and back to reengage tape of the supply reel before extending to an access window of the housing. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the guide surface includes a rotatable surface. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the guide surface includes a stationary surface. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the guide surface includes a contoured surface. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein when streaming the storage tape, the storage tape becomes separated from the reel by a thin layer of air. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7 , further including a second guide surface disposed within the housing, wherein the storage tape extends to a second guide surface before extending to the access window. 
     
     
       13. A tape drive with a storage cartridge disposed therein, comprising:
 a storage cartridge housing having:
 an access window, 
 a supply reel rotatably disposed within the storage cartridge housing and having storage tape wound on the supply reel, and 
 only a single guide surface disposed within the storage cartridge housing, wherein the guide surface is positioned within the storage cartridge housing to guide the storage tape away from the supply reel and then back to reengage tape of the supply reel before extending to the access window; and 
 
 a tape drive having:
 at least a first guiding element, 
 a data transducer, and 
 a take-up reel, wherein 
 
 the storage tape is guided within the tape drive along a tape path passing adjacent a data transducer, and wound on the take-up reel, wherein the storage tape passes adjacent the data transducer along the tape path between at least the first guiding element and the take-up reel. 
 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the access window of the cartridge housing is the only access window for allowing the tape drive access to the storage tape wound on the supply reel for reading or writing to the storage tape. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the guide surface includes a rotatable surface. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the guide surface includes a stationary surface. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the guide surface includes a contoured surface.